University of Oxford (reviews)

I have absolutely loved my first year at the University of Oxford! It has been a surreal experience, like that you would get at no other university, and although challenging at times, was all worth it.

One of the best things about Oxford is the college system – you are assigned to a college which is where you live, eat, attend tutorials (classes) etc. This means that you really feel like you are part of a community within your college and makes it so much easier to make friends.

Obviously Oxford is an academic challenge, and I have definitely had to do so much more work than any friends at any other universities (1-2 essays and a statistics assignment a week, involving long reading lists as a psychology student). You have to be interested in your subject, dedicated, focused and put in the work – it’s not going to be easy. But you can also have a life outside of work as well – I have joined many societies, sports and also have a full social life as well!

Doing a Joint Honours degree at Oxford has offered me such a range of experiences and skills, alongside exposure to different teaching styles and approaches during my time here. The intimate tutorial setting works very well to consolidate the content learnt during larger lectures and seminars and fosters a more relaxed space to tackle the big topics in our studies with experts in the field.

The college system offers a good base network for freshers coming into the university but isn’t too rigid as to not allow branching out and finding great friends across other colleges too. The vast range of societies and clubs also helps to students to break out of the college bubble if they want to. There is a noticeable disparity between the colleges when it comes to accommodation cost and catering but in terms of quality of teaching, they are all generally equal so getting pooled to another college doesn’t matter in terms of education received.

The city itself is very pretty and is filled with lots of history, though a major downside is that this charm attracts a lot of tourists all throughout the year, so it can feel quite busy at times – especially during the summer. There’s also such a great range of food and markets, including spots to be found in the adjacent town, Cowley. For students, however, it can be quite an expensive city to live in, even more so when you take into consideration the costs of all the formals, balls, and events that the culture here promotes.

As for workload, there certainly is an emphasis on self-directed learning hence the reading lists for each term or module can be quite hefty. The 8-week term structure means that the demand for work can be rather intense, and faculties don’t communicate with each other concerning students on Joint Honours courses, so good time-management is definitely need. That being said, there is lots of fun around the city and organised within colleges so students end up having lots of fun when they come – it’s definitely worth making an application!

Studying at Oxford is a great experience. The courses are challenging, but the quality of education is top-notch. The professors are real experts in their fields and always push you to do your best.
The libraries and campus facilities are excellent, and the student community is very welcoming. The workload can be heavy, but it is definitely worth it for anyone looking for a strong education. I highly recommend it!

My experience in this program was excellent, providing a solid balance between theoretical foundations and practical, real-world tech projects. The supportive professors and hands-on coursework in coding and data analysis gave me confidence and strong skills for my career. I highly recommend this university to anyone aiming to build a successful path in computer science and data science.